History marks Vikings’ Season 4 return and new cast

HISTORY’s hit drama series Vikings returns for a gripping fourth season onThursday, February 18th at 10pm ET. The network has added four episodes to its initial 16 episode order and is rolling out an epic fan experience extending far beyond the new season.

Beginning February 18th, a new episode will air every Thursday for ten weeks with the remaining episodes to air later in the year. Brand new this season is the innovative online destination, ‘Vikings: A World Revealed’,thattakes fans on an interactive journey into the making of Vikings, guided by the stars of the show. Also new is Real Vikings, a four-part documentary series that draws on recent discoveries, leading experts, and the cast of Vikings to offer fans a compelling window into Viking civilization. In the week leading up to the premiere, ET Canada takes viewers behind-the-scenes of Vikings in Vikings: Behind the Shield Wall with ET Canada featuring exclusive, on-set interviews with the cast and a sneak peek of the new season.

In the upcoming season of Vikings, betrayal is everywhere as the powers begin to shift. Following the Vikings’ successful raid of Paris in season three, Ragnar is the most feared and respected leader in the Western World. However, his victory is short-lived as he is surrounded by those who seek his undoing. Joining the stellar cast this season is Canadian Dianne Doan(Descendants) as “Yidu,” a completely different character within the world of the Vikings who fascinates Ragnar. Doan is joined by Peter Franzén (The Gunman) as “King Harold Finehair,” a complex character who seeks to be King of Norway and a potential threat to Ragnar; and Jasper Pääkkönen (Jet Trash) as “Halfdan The Black,” King Harold’s violent younger brother. In an exciting first in the series’ history, the new season of Vikings will feature scenes filmed in Canada, on location in Sault Ste. Marie.

Vikings has been the #1 Canadian specialty program among multiple key demos for three consecutive seasons and is the #1 program on HISTORY*. Fans can spend the holidays catching up on the exciting first three seasons of Vikings on shomi and iTunes, and the third season will be available on HISTORY on Demand, history.ca, and the HISTORY Go app beginning December 21st. Leading up to the season four premiere, a Vikings season three marathon will air on Saturday, February 13th on HISTORY.

Prior to becoming a television critic and partner at TV, Eh?, Greg David was a critic for TV Guide Canada, the country's most trusted source for TV news. He has interviewed television actors, actresses and behind-the-scenes folks from hundreds of television series from Canada, the U.S. and internationally. He is a podcaster, public speaker, weekly radio guest and educator, and past member of the Television Critics Association.